A proposal to ban new piers and docks in areas designated for recreational shellfishing and relay areas is expected to be presented to the town council.

Cotuit Town Councilor Rick Barry is circulating a draft of a zoning overlay district that would cover all such areas across town.

Barry sees it as a "no-brainer" to protect areas already identified as beneficial to the shellfish resources.

In 2001 the town council approved a pier and dock ban for the Cotuit shoreline, allowing only the rebuilding of existing structures.

Human services heard by county Assembly

The usually quiet Assembly of Delegates chamber in the county complex was filled to bursting with Cape residents and supporters from many walks of life, most there to support the funding of social services proposed to be cut from the county's FY '08 budget.

Of the more than $1 million requested by groups across the Cape, advocates united behind a request for $520,000 in support. Backers included members of the Cape Cod Council of Churches, the Barnstable Town Council, the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District, the Cape Cod branch of the NAACP, Cape-wide councils on aging, former members of the Assembly itself, and others.

"If you have $25 million (the county's full budget), I'm kind of astonished to hear you say you have no money," said Lawrence Brown of Hyannis, a Cape Cod Academy teacher and member of the Interfaith Coalition. "I'm begging you to find a way because I believe you can."

Fire district protests water rate proposal

Hyannis Fire District commissioners are balking at the 30-percent increase in fire hydrant rentals proposed by the Hyannis Water Board, while one commissioner wonders why the district should continue to pay anything at all for the rentals, as the town has taken over the water system.

Commissioner Dennis Sullivan said it isn't a matter of ownership, but more one of paying to maintain the hydrants in good working order.

The district will hold a one-article special meeting Jan. 24, 2008, at 7 p.m. to ask approval to spend $202,560 for water and hydrant service for the current fiscal year.

School committee reinstates school choice

Parents of elementary school students from other towns will have the option to send their children to some of Barnstable's schools next year.

The school committee voted 3-2 to reinstate inter-school choice, with some limitations. There will be only a few slots: several in two grades at Barnstable/West Barnstable and Hyannis West elementary schools, and several in one grade at Cotuit Elementary School.

Supt. Dr. Patricia Grenier recommended against the action, noting that many local principals were not in favor of the program and that changes may be necessary in elementary school buildings in the near future. She was joined by member David Lawler, who said the schools' financial condition makes this the wrong time for the change.

Colleague Pat Murphy said that the situation is actually a reason to go forward with school choice, noting that it could bring in $75,000 in revenues.

State: Cape Wind info is adequate

State and local permitting agencies have enough information to begin action on Cape Wind's Nantucket Sound wind farm proposal, state Secretary of Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles ruled last week.

In issuing a certificate of adequacy for the 130-turbine project planned for Horseshoe Shoal -- and not requiring a supplemental filing as requested by the Cape Cod Commission and others -- Bowles wrote that the final Environmental Impact Report "presents a complete and definitive description and analysis of the jurisdictional portions of the project and its alternatives, and contains the assessment of potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures to enable state permitting agencies to understand the environmental consequences of their decisions.

Saying he was "shocked and upset," state Sen. Rob O'Leary said the state had "ignored the comments of dozens of local organizations that requested and made the case for a more extensive review. Most troubling is that the state has narrowed jurisdiction down to the wire that comes off this facility and in the process abdicated their authority and the interest of the citizens of the commonwealth."

Apostle of progress and charity is dead

He was wealthy enough to give millions of dollars to Cape charities and humble enough to squeeze under a panicked motorist's car to tie up its loose muffler so she could drive to a repair shop.

He supported grand institutions and delighted in buying sandwiches and soft drinks for the county prisoners working on the foundation for the James Otis statue on the lawn of Barnstable Superior Court House.

Paul Lorusso of Barnstable, who died April 8, Easter Sunday, at 85, never left well enough alone. To him, "well enough" was a grossly insufficient benchmark.

Charter drive over the top

The drive to place a charter commission question on the November ballot has more than enough certified signatures.

Barnstable Assistant Town Clerk Lucia Fulco said that 4,764 names have been certified, more than the minimum 4,669.

Armory site preferred for performance center

A committee working with town officials on a proposed performing arts center in downtown Hyannis has recommended the site of the former National Guard armory on South Street.

Member Jeanine Marshall said the committee chose the former Anchor Marine property (now the home of the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, which has a long-term lease) on the harbor as a potential alternative.

Acquisition cost was one factor that relegated the 500 Main St. block to an also-ran in the selection process.

Fire study request ends with tie vote

Deadlocked, the town council failed to approve a committee to develop a "comprehensive and objective study of fire services of the five fire districts."

The tie vote came on a resolution offered by three councilors involved in the Fire District Study Preparation Committee -- Janice Barton, Ann Canedy and Leah Curtis -- who recommended the formation of a committee to draft a request for proposals for such a study.

Yarmouth voters will be asked to leave CC Commission

Concerns about overdevelopment brought the Cape Cod Commission into existence in 1990. Fears that it has stymied growth -- specifically of the commercial variety -- led Yarmouth Town Meeting voters to instruct their selectmen "to petition the Massachusetts Legislature to withdraw the Town of Yarmouth from the Cape Cod Commission." The vote was 138 to 110.

In a nearly two-hour debate that began auspiciously at 9:11 p.m., the regional land-use agency was praised as a bulwark protecting the Cape's environment and community character and damned as a self-perpetuating regulator blocking necessary expansion of the tax base. Its staff received praise from a developer, but also brickbats like the one calling them "arrogant and iconoclastic."

The vote began a process that will lead to formal withdrawal question on the spring 2008 town election ballot. Withdrawal would require reopening the Cape Cod Commission Act on Beacon Hill and the approval of the Legislature.

DCPC expected to address traffic by end of June

A major new regulatory package is expected to be presented to the town council and Cape Cod Commission by the end of June to address what Town Manager John Klimm said is the "number one issue" raised by Barnstable residents: traffic congestion.

Klimm said "much more work" has been done to identify the areas along the town's major arteries that are causing the problems. The proposal under development would look at moratoriums in specific areas, not for entire roadways.

"You need to put the car in neutral before you put it in reverse," Klimm said.

By year's end, a package had yet to be filed with the council.

Men's club marks its fiftieth year

Not all its members are from the village, and its monthly meetings are held in a hotel in Hyannis. Nevertheless, the Osterville Men's Club is celebrating 50 years of existence.

Formed in 1957, the group has pursued fellowship at luncheon meetings and enlightenment at regular discussion seminars on topics of the day.

Members are proud of their scholarship offerings, which this year will increase to five $2,000 awards and one $3,000